Scariff angler hooks 9lb trout

Ahead of the mayfly fishing season, a Scariff angler has made a thrilling catch that yielded a 9lb 9oz trout, measuring 29.5in long, in the Scariff River.
Joseph O’Shaughnessy and his brother, Brendan from Scariff set out fishing last Wednesday morning thinking it would be similar to every other angling experience on the river in their 20 years fishing there. With their largest trout weighing 2lbs over those two decades, little did they think that there was a trout of more than 9lb to be caught.
But that changed when they felt the draw on their line at 11.45am. Initially thinking they had hooked a pike, a closer examination revealed it was not. The fish was hooked by Joseph who, exhausted after half an hour of a tough struggle, passed the rod to Brendan, who continued the titanic battle to land it. A total of 45 minutes passed before they succeeded in reeling in the hefty trout.
The O’Shaughnessy brothers are from a family of distinguished fishermen in Scariff and their grandfather, the late Paddy O’Shaughnessy, Main Street, holds the honour of catching the heaviest trout on the Scariff River, at the Scairbh, just above the bridge, in 1961. It weighed 10lbs 3oz.
Although Joseph’s trout was caught outside of any competition, he still considers it his prize catch. Indeed, word has spread and Joseph’s trout has been the talk of the angling community this week.
While filleting the trout might have kept himself and his family well fed, Joseph had other plans and his prize catch is now with the taxidermists in preparation for a pride of place perch. Where that perch will be is yet to be decided, although it will most definitely be mounted for a short period at the O’Shaughnessy household.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Joseph says that in all his years fishing and as a member of the Scariff, Mountshannon, Whitegate Angling Club, he has never caught such a fish.
“I’ve fished in that river nearly all my life and the biggest I’ve ever caught was a 2lb trout,” he says.
Meanwhile, Joseph has sent off a specimen fish form. Asked what plans he has for the trout when he gets it home, Joseph says, “I’m getting it stuffed. It’ll probably be the once in my lifetime that I get that done.”
With the mayfly season kicking off in a few days time, Joseph admits that it is definitely a boost for the area and will go a long way towards encouraging others to get out fishing.